Dave Lucas

Capital Region Bureau Chief

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

Although the worst impacts are being felt downstate, the coronavirus pandemic is an acute concern at hospitals across upstate New York. WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas spoke with Albany Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Dennis McKenna.

Earlier this month, the Center for Law and Justice in Albany published a report on structural racism and public safety in the city. Among other things, the report calls upon four city leaders to acknowledge the existence of structural racism in the police department.

County Executive Dan McCoy said today there are 475 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Albany County. There are now 638 people under mandatory quarantine and 74 people under precautionary quarantine.

The death of a man in his 50s with underlying health issues Thursday night was the 12th coronavirus death in Albany County. Meantime, county officials continue to urge people to practice social distancing, especially during Passover and Easter.

When the coronavirus swept across the Northeast, every individual, business and govenment official had to make adjustments to their daily lives and schedules. The Albany Police Department is no exception.